Partido Liberal stalwarts questioned the timing of the release of the committee report on the Dengvaxia issue, saying it could be a move to cover up controversies hounding the administration.

This is simply a smokescreen of the administration to hide the issues hounding its officials,” said former congressman Erin Tanada, now Partido Liberal’s vice president for external affairs.





“Why was the committee report released to the public before it has been filed or sponsored? Are not the signatures of majority of the committee members required before the report can be filed?” Tanada asked.

“What happens to the report if the majority disagrees? Wala pang pirma eh,” he added.





Sen. Bam Aquino agreed with Tanada. 





“Though this report has not been made available to the members of the Blue Ribbon Committee, if the final report reflects yesterday’s statements and political leanings, we will have serious concerns with the conclusions made,” Aquino said.

Moreover, the senator reiterated that no child has died due to the Dengvaxia vaccine. “Ang isang mahalaga na lumabas sa presscon kahapon ay wala pang napatutunayan na may batang namatay dahil sa Dengvaxia vaccine,” he said.

Tanada pointed out that the release coincided with the impending closure of Boracay Island, the President’s order to the House to hasten the impeachment process against Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno, and the rising prices of goods and services.





“Nais na naman nilang ilihis ang isyu mula sa kapalpakan at kontrobersyang bumabalot sa administrasyong ito para matuon sa LP ang galit ng taumbayan,” said Tanada.

For his part, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat doubted the fairness of Gordon’s report, saying that it focused mainly on the past administration, but did not dwell on the current government.





“Hindi lang sa nakaraang administrasyon ipinatupad ang bakuna sa Dengvaxia kundi sa kasalukuyang administrasyon. Nakakapagtaka na nakatuon lang ang report ni Sen. Gordon sa nakalipas na administrasyon,” said Baguilat.